Iran arrests Kazemi lawyer over atomic secrets

TEHRAN, IRAN - Iran threatened to restart some suspended activities that could be used to make atomic weapons if European negotiators do not immediately offer a promised package of incentives to entice Tehran to freeze its nuclear program.

Authorities also announced they had detained a prominent human rights lawyer and accused him of leaking classified details on Iran's nuclear spies.

Abdolfattah Soltani, who also represents the family of Zahra Kazemi, an Iranian-Canadian photojournalist who died in Iranian custody, was arrested recently, said Mohammad Dadkhah, Soltani's lawyer.

Meanwhile, a senior European diplomat said the negotiators from Britain, France and Germany were just days away from making Tehran a "generous" offer if it agrees to permanently halt uranium enrichment.

That offer could include guarantees that Iran will not be invaded, said the diplomat, who is accredited to the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency.

But Iran's nuclear negotiator, Hasan Rowhani, warned Iran was preparing to restart uranium reprocessing work at its Isfahan nuclear conversion plant.

The Isfahan nuclear plant converts uranium ore concentrate, known as yellowcake, into uranium gas, the feedstock for enrichment. Uranium enriched to high levels can be used for nuclear bombs and at low levels it is used as fuel for power plants.

If Iran resumes reprocessing uranium, the Europeans — with American support — would probably push to have Iran referred to the U.N. Security Council for breaking their promise to desist as long as the talks with the Europeans continue. The council could impose sanctions on Iran.

Jamal Karimirad, Iran's judiciary spokesperson, said Soltani was arrested because "he has revealed information on nuclear spies both inside and outside Iran as well as to families of the suspects."

Last year, Iran said it detained several Iranian nationals who it accused of transferring nuclear secrets to foreigners. The suspects have been tried, but Iran has kept the verdicts secret.

Dadkhah said he suspected the true reason for Soltani's arrest was his work investigating the case of Kazemi, the photographer who died in prison under suspicious circumstances. In an appeal related to the case, Soltani demanded hardline prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi appear for questioning.

An appeals court reviewed the Kazemi case recently but has not yet issued a verdict. In 2004, a court rejected a request to summon Mortazavi.

Kazemi died in jail in July 2003 about three weeks after being detained for taking photographs outside a Tehran prison.